Lin Shanshan took Ning Zhuo's pulse.
A moment later, she withdrew her delicate fingers and said softly, "The amount of Bitter Cold Qi accumulated in Young Master Ning Zhuo's body isn't much, but it will still take over a month to completely expel it."
"During this period, any food that Young Master Ning Zhuo tastes will carry a bitter taste."
"Do not be exposed to the cold, as this will exacerbate the Bitter Cold Qi."
"Also, keep an open mind, do not wallow in melancholy, as this will make the Bitter Cold Qi even more profound."
Lin Shanshan carefully instructed Ning Zhuo.
Ning Zhuo, somewhat reluctantly, said, "Miss Lin, your sect specializes in healing, isn't there any way to target this Bitter Cold Qi?"
Lin Shanshan smiled: "There is, but the cost is too high."
"To clear the Bitter Cold Qi in an instant, at least Golden Core Level elixir pills would need to be used. In my opinion, the amount of Bitter Cold Qi in your body isn't substantial and doesn't affect your cultivation or combat ability."
"Just endure for a while and you will heal without medicine. Why not endure for such an outcome?"
Ning Zhuo nodded slightly: "I must thank Miss Lin for her timely advice. Hanzhou is indeed Hanzhou, the Bitter Cold Qi they use is so troublesome. Only Golden Core methods can solve it."
Lin Shanshan said, "The difficulty in dealing with Bitter Cold Qi is not due to its physical erosion of cultivators, but its spiritual invasion."
"According to my sect's speculations, the Bitter Cold Qi contains True Intent, and its infiltration of the Upper Dantian in the Divine Sea is irreversible."
"That's why my father believes that the Bitter Cold Scripture is very likely a Buddhist Sect cultivation technique. You must also be aware, Young Master, of the terrifying aspect of Buddhist Sect techniques, which lies in their power to convert others."
Ning Zhuo nodded.
Many of the Buddhist Sect techniques possess the power to convert others.
The root lies in the true intent inherent within the Buddha's power, capable of penetrating the Upper Dantian.
Hence, cultivators often start to accept Buddhist teachings after being frequently defeated by Buddhist techniques, eventually converting and becoming disciples of the Buddhist Sect.
There is a divine skill in Buddhism known to the world as the Five-Finger Mountain, developed from a conversion-centered Buddhist technique.
When this divine skill is executed, the Buddha's power takes form, transforming into the Five-Finger Mountain to suppress formidable enemies. The longer the suppression lasts, the more the enemies are infiltrated and transformed by the Buddhist True Intent.
Ning Zhuo: "So the true intention of Hanzhou is not to cultivate at Little Struggle Peak but to convert others?"
Lin Shanshan shook her head slightly: "This is just a speculation, at least Hanzhou has never admitted it, so this conjecture has never been confirmed."
Ning Zhuo laughed: "How could Hanzhou possibly admit it? Conversion, such matters are taboo. If I am converted, am I still truly myself? At least I believe that this is not a change originating from myself, but an external force forcibly shaping me. It's a terrifying matter!"
Lin Shanshan sighed softly: "Little Struggle Peak is a place of mixed characters, and foreign cultivators come with various schemes and intentions. It is very difficult for outsiders to understand the full picture. Young Master Ning Zhuo, you said before that you came here to seek guidance, what did you want to learn?"
Without waiting for Ning Zhuo to answer, Lin Shanshan continued: "I initially thought that your struggle with Hanzhou would likely be a losing battle."
"But since you possess a Golden Core Level Spirit Talisman, combined with your profound mastery of the Five Elements Magic, you already possess a top-tier combat power on Little Struggle Peak."
"I underestimated you!"
"Whether you have my help or not, it doesn't matter to the outcome. Without me, you would surely succeed."
Even without the Heart Demon Seal or the Buddha Heart Demon Seal, Ning Zhuo, relying solely on his own ability to discern people's intentions, which he had cultivated since childhood in the Fire Persimmon Immortal City, immediately sensed the hidden resentment and doubt in Lin Shanshan.
Ning Zhuo immediately beamed a smile, tinged with apology, and looked at Lin Shanshan with a sincere gaze.
He rose slowly, bowed deeply to Lin Shanshan, first apologizing, then explaining calmly.
"Miss Lin, it's not my intention to deceive you."
"Look, this is the Oil Slick and Smooth Talisman, specially given to me by the Golden Core Ancestor of my clan back home."
Lin Shanshan immediately diverted her gaze: "Young Master Ning Zhuo, this is your trump card, how can you reveal it so casually?"
Ning Zhuo tsks, steps forward directly, grabs Lin Shanshan's hand, and stuffs the Oil Slick and Smooth Talisman into her hand.
Ning Zhuo: "To show it to Miss Lin like this, how can it be considered 'casual'?"
Lin Shanshan was caught off guard by Ning Zhuo's sudden behavior.
"Men and women should not touch hands when giving or receiving things, how can this be?!" She was filled with embarrassment and indignation.
Buddha Heart Demon Seal!
The embarrassment in Lin Shanshan's heart surged, overwhelming her anger.
Ning Zhuo, with an earnest and desperate expression, said: "It wasn't my intention to deceive Miss Lin. Such a Spirit Talisman is meant to be used to save one's life. As a trump card, if I show it off, it will cause others to underestimate me."
"I am Ning Zhuo, from the Ning Family of Fire Persimmon Immortal City, I've never changed my name or my principles! Being underestimated doesn't bother me. However, because of my actions, others might also look down on my Ning Family, and that cannot be allowed!"
His words were filled with a sense of collective honor, eliciting a strong sense of empathy from Lin Shanshan, the heiress of the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect.
Ning Zhuo continued: "Moreover, the name 'Ning Zhuo' implies the meaning of modesty and humility, a blessing and reminder from my dear parents. Thus, being arrogant and domineering is not in my nature."
"I constantly remind myself: these trump cards are mere externals, not true strength. True strength is what's within oneself."
"So, I've always pretended these cards up my sleeve didn't exist!"
"Take this time for instance..."
"If I had relied on the Oil Slick and Smooth Talisman, I would never have earnestly sought Miss Lin's teaching. Without learning from Miss Lin, how could I have made such significant progress in close combat martial arts?"
"You see, in my previous battle against Hanzhou, I engaged in close-quarters fighting. Though I was in a sorry state, I still managed to hold on for a little while. The old me would never have been able to do that."
"All this is thanks to you, Miss Lin."
Lin Shanshan hurriedly waved her hands: "Not at all, not at all. Young Master Ning Zhuo, you have an excellent aptitude, grasping concepts upon a single explanation, and training with all your might, completely devoted. I am by no means a renowned teacher. Your progress is largely due to your own excellence."
Lin Shanshan's words were not exaggerated; they were heartfelt and sincere.
She had personally witnessed Ning Zhuo's determined efforts!
Ning Zhuo sighed deeply, expressing his gratitude: "Miss, your help to me goes beyond just that."
"The Fasting Pill helped me overcome the pangs of hunger."
"The Warm Heart Pendant protected me from the cold."
"After the battle in Hanzhou, I realized even more how great this help was!"
When the Warm Heart Pendant was mentioned, Lin Shanshan suddenly remembered the purpose of her visit to Ning Zhuo.
She wanted to ask for the jade pendant back.
She had only lent it to Ning Zhuo, not given it as a gift. The Fasting Pill was one thing, but the Warm Heart Pendant, although a minor magic artifact, was after all her personal belonging.
She had given it to Ning Zhuo on a whim, out of concern and inexperience.
In the past few days, the whispers and gossip within the sect made her realize that her action had been highly improper. Should it come to light, it would probably become solid evidence for those rumors. It would be better to ask for it back!
Just as she was about to speak, Ning Zhuo said, "Miss, look, this is a Spirit Talisman from my clan. The Ning Family specializes in talisman making. This talisman possesses its own spiritual nature, therefore, it does not require me to activate it. As soon as I fall into any sort of crisis, it will trigger on its own."
Lin Shanshan's attention was diverted.
As a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator, even though she possessed Nascent Soul level protection, she had little contact with Golden Core level talismans.
The Ten Thousand Medicine Sect was not proficient in these.
Elixir Pills of the Golden Core level, she had seen plenty.
Especially since the Oil Slick and Smooth Talisman was a Spirit Talisman, which could be used repeatedly, it was even rarer.
Lin Shanshan only glanced at the talisman before handing it back to Ning Zhuo.
She repressed her curiosity. After all, it was Ning Zhuo's trump card, how could she inspect it?
Yet Ning Zhuo did not take it, but instead said, "I learned the ways of interaction quite early on. I respond to others as they do to me. Miss Lin, though we were strangers and have known each other for only a short time, you have helped me so much, with such sincerity. I ought to treat you with the same sincerity!"
"To be honest, although my family's ancestor is only at the Golden Core level, our household does possess Nascent Soul combat power."
"I am fortunate to have gained the trust of my ancestor. Having such cards up my sleeve for this journey, there are actually quite a few."
"If not for our ancestor personally entrusting me to keep this talisman close to me, why would there be any harm in giving it to you now?"
On hearing 'personal belonging,' Lin Shanshan's heart skipped a beat, and the fingers clutching the talisman involuntarily tensed, as if she could feel Ning Zhuo's warmth emanating from it.
Lin Shanshan, with a solemn expression, stood up: "Young Master Ning Zhuo, you jest! A Golden Core level Spirit Talisman, such a precious item, how could it be given away so lightly?"
Ning Zhuo likewise wore a serious face: "Miss Lin, you are mistaken!"
"The Spirit Talisman is good, but it is, after all, an external object."
"Such 'good items' are only coveted because of our relatively weaker cultivation. Once we become Golden Core cultivators, our perception of this talisman will diminish significantly, won't it?"
"True strength lies within oneself. We cultivators seek to make use of external things to strengthen ourselves."
"Therefore, I value such Spirit Talismans, but also do not place too much importance on them."
"As Ning Zhuo, I prioritize people above all, especially valuing kindness and loyalty."
"Miss Lin, you showed me great warmth and kindness, spontaneously offering me the Warm Heart Pendant and the Fasting Pill, assisting me with special training. How could I not repay you?"
At the end, Ning Zhuo sighed softly, his face showing a shade of regret: "However, this Oil Slick and Smooth Talisman really cannot be given away lightly. Because it was personally bestowed by the ancestor, when I return to my family, I need to seek his approval before I can act."
"But I assure you, Miss Lin, in the future I will definitely gift you with a Spirit Talisman, with a heart full of gratitude."
"This..." Lin Shanshan opened her mouth, but could not find the words.
She was at a loss for words!
With the conversation having reached this point, seeing Ning Zhuo's face filled with gratitude and sincerity, how could she still bring herself to ask for the jade pendant back?
"Ah, if there's anyone to blame, it's myself for not being clear at the beginning, leading to misunderstandings."
"In fact, I did have the intention of giving it as a gift at the start. It was only the recent rumors that made me realize it might have been somewhat inappropriate."